Tekken 8 Could Be Headed to Nintendo Switch 2

The fighting game community is buzzing after Katsuhiro Harada, the producer of the Tekken series, dropped some interesting hints about the chance of Tekken 8 coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. Harada said the plan was "an interesting option and not totally off the table" in a recent interview, but he also said it would take "a lot of work" to make it happen.

Harada agreed that the Switch 2's fast growth in the market makes it an appealing business move. "The Switch 2 is doing pretty well in terms of business." Said Harada, "So, if you want to get more people to watch, that would be a great choice," he also added. He did, however, stress how hard it would be to make the game work on Nintendo's new hardware, which is built on a different architecture than PCs or standard consoles.

But a lot of people in the business world think Harada is playing down the chances of the port. In any case, Tekken 8 is known to run incredibly well on the Steam Deck, which has less powerful hardware than the Switch 2. But it is worth noting that a Tekken 8 Nintendo Switch 2 port wouldn't be easy; it's not impossible because of how well the game is optimized.

Leaks from foreign retail databases that put Tekken 8 on the same list as big games like Red Dead Redemption 2, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, and Elden Ring for the Switch 2 have added to the rumors. They came out months ago, which makes many people think Harada's "there's nothing to announce" line is more about timing than truth.

We might hear more about Tekken 8 at the next Nintendo Direct if the rumors are true. Fans and people who work in the industry are both betting on the rumored September Nintendo Direct. This could also bring long-awaited release dates for Metroid Prime 4 Beyond, Kirby Air Riders, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, and other first- and third-party games.

Nintendo is clearly going for a strong lineup leading up to the launch of the Switch 2. Games like Pokémon Legends: Z-A (October 16) and Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, with an initial release date of September 5, are already set to come out. Adding Tekken 8 to the Switch 2 would not only make the fighting games list stronger, but it would also be one of the most well-known Tekken games to come out on a Nintendo console.

Harada is being vague for now, maybe because he likes the guesswork. The smart money, though, says that Tekken 8 on Switch 2 will happen sooner rather than later. This is because the game has been shown to work well on less powerful hardware, and Nintendo's huge fan base could bring in a lot of money.